Aqara U500 is coming to the Czech Republic! The new smart lock is designed for glass doors

The Aqara U500 is not mounted into a wooden door leaf. It attaches to the door with a clamp directly onto glass 8 to 12 millimeters thick. On the outside, there is a panel with a keypad and a fingerprint reader; inside, the lock body with a rotary knob. Alza lists it as a new product and sells it for 7,399 CZK, currently in stock.

It won’t lock you into one ecosystem. The lock supports Matter over Thread and, in addition to Apple Home, also works with Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Home Assistant, so even an Android-based household can handle it.

Quick summary:
✅ Makes sense: if you have glass doors 8 to 12 mm thick and want to unlock them with a fingerprint, PIN, or card, and also control them from Google Home or SmartThings.
⚠️ Consider: the door must be flush with the frame, and there must be a gap of 5 to 10 mm between them. Unlocking by tapping your phone via Home Keys is reserved for iPhone and Apple Watch.
💡 The package includes four AA batteries, two mechanical keys, and a strike box. It does not yet have customer reviews on Alza.

Rozhoduje tvar dveří: sklo 8 až 12 mm v rovině se zárubní

Before purchasing, it’s necessary to measure the door; the phone is a secondary consideration. The manufacturer requires the door and frame to be flush; otherwise, the lock cannot be installed. The glass must be 8 to 12 millimeters thick, and the gap between the door leaf and the frame must be 5 to 10 millimeters.

The cylinder is built directly into the lock, so according to the manufacturer, installation should only require a PH1 screwdriver. However, for doors with different dimensions, they admit that modifications may be necessary. According to specifications, the lock weighs 1.605 kg.

The outer panel has IP65 protection and the manufacturer states it operates from –35 to 66 °C, making it suitable for outdoor environments. The inner part is more sensitive, with IP54 protection and a range from –18 to 50 °C.

Fingerprint for family, time-limited PIN for visitors

The reader has a resolution of 160 × 160 pixels and can store up to 50 fingerprints. According to the manufacturer, access data remains local to the lock and is encrypted with the AES algorithm.

Those without a registered finger can use a password. This can be permanent, offline, or scheduled, which is useful for services like cleaning that only need access at specific times. Additionally, the lock can be opened with an NFC card, a remote command from the app, a voice command, or one of the two mechanical keys.

Tap-to-unlock via Apple Home Keys works with iPhone and Apple Watch. According to the manufacturer, it even works when the iPhone is out of battery.

It locks itself as soon as the door closes

A built-in gyroscope detects when the door has closed, and the lock then locks itself. This is a practical safety feature for glass doors, which can easily be left ajar. Night mode only allows unlocking by the administrator, and Do Not Disturb mode mutes regular notifications, but still allows alerts about forced entry or ajar doors to pass through. There is also a separate doorbell button on the panel.

The lock can be paired with the Aqara Doorbell Camera Hub G410. Then you can see who is at the door, and unlock remotely via Apple Home. “If-then” rules can also turn on lights or trigger other automations after the door opens.

Four AA batteries and USB-C for emergencies

The lock is powered by four AA batteries, which are included in the package. The manufacturer promises a battery life of up to seven months, and the lock will pre-announce a low battery with a notification. If you still don’t manage to replace it, you can emergency revive it via the USB-C port, for example, from a power bank.

Standalone, or with Google Home and Home Assistant

The U500 can function standalone or via a central unit. However, for smart features, it needs to be added to the manufacturer’s app, which also supports Czech and Slovak. From there, it can connect to Google Home, SmartThings, Home Assistant, or Homey. It is voice-controlled by Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Siri.

For 7,399 CZK, the U500 makes the most sense where glass doors are flush with the frame and the household already runs on Google Home or SmartThings. With Android, you will only miss out on unlocking by tapping your phone via Home Keys.

Do you have glass doors at home or work that you would like to unlock with a fingerprint?